Pneumatic discharge arrangement for railway car hoppers

ABSTRACT

A pneumatic discharge arrangement for railway hopper cars comprises a housing divided into a plurality of discharge chambers each including an elongated opening. The openings are regulated by means of slide valves disposed underneath the opening within a trough which is adapted to be connected to a pneumatic conveyer. Movement of the valves between open and closed positions is regulated by means of rotatable shafts respectively connected to the valves and positioned to project out from opposite ends of the housing so the valves can be operated from opposite sides of a railway car. The shafts include rack and pinion arrangements for moving the valves to their respective positions.

United States Patent Shaver et al.

[S4] PNEUMATIC DISCHARGE ARRANGEMENT FOR RAILWAY CAR HOPPERS [72] Inventors: William R. Shaver, Munster, lnd.;

James J. Schuller, Bolton, 11].

52 us. Cl. ..222 193, 222/195, 222/505, 222/559, 302/57 511 Int.Cl...; ..B65d5/54 [58] Field of Search. .....222/559, 561, 506,505, 482, 222/193, 195, 303/52, 57; 302/57 [56] I Reicren'c es Cited- UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 3,085,517 4/1963 Smith.. .222/561- [151 3,693,839 51 Sept. 26, 1972 Primary ExaminerEvon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-H. S. Lane Attorney-Hilmond O. Vogel and Richard J. Myers [5 7] ABSTRACT A pneumatic discharge arrangement for railway hopper cars comprises a housing divided into a plurality of discharge chambers each including an elongated opening. The openings are regulated by means of slide valves disposed underneath the opening within a trough which is adapted to be connected to a pneumatic conveyer. Movement of the valves between open and closed positions is regulated by means of rotatable shafts respectively connected to the valves and positioned to project out from opposite ends of the housingso the valves can be operated from opposite sides of .a railway carQThe shafts include rack and pinion arrangements for moving the valves to their respective positions.

PATENTED SEP 26 I972 SHEET 1 OF 4 INVENTORS WILLIAM R. SHAVER JAMES J. SCHULLER BY flw m PAT'E'NTmszPzs m2 SHEET 2 OF 4 iuywroRs WILL/AM Rghg lAvER JAMES J. SCHULLER PATENTEUSEP26 I972 SHEET 3 OF 4 INVENTORS WILLIAM R.$ HAVER JAMES J. SCHULLER PATENTEDSEMS I972 SHEET 0F 4 INVENTORS WILLIAM R. SHAVER JAMES J. SCHULLER W p 1 PNEUMATIC DISCHARGE ARRANGEMENT FOR 1 RAILWAY HOPPERS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The field of art towhich this invention pertains is in hopper discharge arrangements of the pneumatic type and particularly to those 'whichare associated withrailway hopper cars.

'2. Description of the Prior Art Prior art' structures include discharge arrangements wherein walls converge toward a discharge opening to direct material to a tubular enclosure or trough provided at the bottom thereof. The trough is usually connected' at opposite ends thereof to a suitable pneumatic FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 9-9 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 10 -10 of FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As best shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, a hopper discharge structure 10 includes converging walls 11 provided at their lower ends with flanged brackets 12. The hopper discharge structure 10 is of a type that is utilized in consubstantially nectionwith railway hopper cars having one or more,

sourcesuch'as a pneumatic conveyor. Regulation of the amount of dischargeis governed by a rotatable tube disposed within the trough which generally includes one or more longitudinal openings positionable in relation to the discharge opening. Such devices have met with some success, but the degree of control of the material discharged has not always been as accurate as desired. The present arrangement provides for a discharge arrangement wherein fine metering accuracy can be maintained in the amount of flow which is discharged. K

- SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION The prime object of the invention is to provide animproved pneumatic discharge arrangement for hopper cars wherein the discharge of material is accurately controlled by means of a valve arrangement which can accurately be controlled to meter any desired quantity of material capable of being discharged from the arrangement. Such accurate control is provided by means of valve members slidably movable within a trough underneath a discharge opening, the valve members being moved by means of a rack and pinion arrangement providing for accurate setting and fine control.

' BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS taken substantially FIG. 6 is a detail cross-sectional view taken substan tially along the line 66 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a view taken substantially along the line 7 7 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing a modified form of valve arrangement;

hoppers each of which includes such a structure. The converging walls 11 are provided at their lower ends with a discharge opening 13f through which material from the hopper may be discharged. A discharge housing 14 is positioned beneath the discharge opening 13 and-includes converging side walls 15 connected to end walls 16,'saidwalls being provided at their upper ends with horizontal flanges 17 in rectangular configuration for suitable attachment to the flanged brackets 12- of the structure 10. The housing 14 is divided into a'plu rality of compartments. or r discharge chambers separated by means of a central inverted V-shaped divider wall structure 18 as best shown inFIGS. 1 and 9. The divider wall structure 18 also includes a plenum chamber 19 closed by means of a bottom wall portion 20. The walls, valves, openings and certain associated parts are of course duplicated in each of the compartments each of which is selectively operable.

The converging side walls 15 are spaced at their lower ends to provide a plurality'of elongated openings 21 beneath. which is disposed a tubulartrough 22. The trough 22 is provided with an arcuate lower portion and includes laterally spaced vertical wall portions 23 which are connected at their upper ends in suitable manner to the lower ends of depending wall structures 24.0f relatively-thicker cross-section than the walls 15 and forming a continuation theteofi-Each of the structures 24 is provided with inwardly facing openings 25 in which aeration pads 26 are positioned. The aeration pads 26 may be of conventional design such as is used in the art, i.e. sintered metal. Each opening 25 is in communication with a passage 27 provided within the structure 24 the said passages 27 being in communication with the plenum chamber 19 through openings 24', as best shown in FIG. 9, provided in the divider wall structure 18. The divider wall structure 18 also includes openings 28 in which similar aeration pads 29 are positioned. A suitable air inlet pipe 30 includes a removable cap 31 and isadapted to supply air pressure to the plenum chamber 19.

As best shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 8, one of the structures 24 which is a continuation of one of the converging walls 15 is provided with a tapered extension 32 projecting inwardly into each tubular trough 22 approximately one-half the distance between the vertical walls 23. The tapered extension 32 with the lower end of the opposite converging wall 15 forms the elongated opening 21 in each of the compartments as hereinabove described. The extension 32 includes a generally inverted V-shaped lower surface 33. A valve assembly 34 is disposed in each of the housing compartments, said assemblies extending substantially in end-to-end relation throughout the length of the housing 14. The said valve assemblies 34 are adapted to control the flowtof material through the openings 21 which extend the length of each of the compartments from the divider wall 18 to the end walls 16 as shownin FIG. 1. The valve assemblies 34 are substantially identical," but I are individually controlled and separably movable. Each valve assembly 34 includes a lower triangular shaped valve plate 35 having connected thereto an upper relatively triangular shaped valve plate 36 both suitably connected together by means of screws 37 to provide a substantiallyrectangular configuration provided at the front end with a narrower beveled sealing edge 38. I

. As shown in the modified form of FIG. 8, a different configuration of a one-piece valve 39 is provided with opposite beveled edges 40, the same functioning similarly to the valve, assembly 34 in'opening and closing the opening 21. The upper valve plates 36 of both valve assemblies 34ar e also provided at their rear ends with a shoulder 41 which as best shown in FIG. 4 in the closed position of the valve 34 engages the lower end of the tapered extension 32 to-effectively seal one end of the opening 21. .The. valve assemblies 34 are connected to a pluralityof slide bars 42 laterally positioned across the trough 22 and each being supported. by a suitable seal bearing 43, the details of which are best shown in FIG. 6. Asshown in FIG. 1, the slide .bars 42 forone of the compartments are; supported on one side of the housing, whereas the slidebarsfor the other valve assembly in the other compartment are supported on the other side of the housing. Each of the slide bars 42 is provided at one end withrack members 44. Longitudinal operating shafts 45-are disposed on opposite sides of the trough 22 and are rotatable in bearings 46. Each shaft 45 extends longitudinally parallel to the valve assemblies 34 on opposite sides of the trough 22 and project outwardly at opposite ends of the housing 14, as best indicated in FIG. 1. Each of the longitudinal shafts is rotated on its bearings 46 which are longitudinally supported at various positions on the housing 14. and includes rack teeth portions 47 which are in engagement with the rack members 44 of each of the slide bars 42.

Referringto FIG. 4, the left-hand'longitudinal shaft 45 is effective to control the valve assembly 34 disposed at the right-hand of the housing disclosed in FIG. 1, whereas the shaft 45 on the right-hand as viewed in FIG. 4, is operative to actuate the valve assembly 34 disposed at the left-hand side of the housing as indicated in FIG. 1. Thus, one of the shafts controls the valve assembly in one compartment and the other controls, the valve assembly in an opposite compartment. A'sbest shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the ends of the shafts have connected thereto cylindrical or circular disks 48for'rotation therewith, said disks also having connecteds thereto lugs 49 having vertical openings 50 within whichactuating bars 51 may be placed for effecting rotation of the respective shafts 45. The tubular trough 2 2 isconnected at opposite ends to conduits 52 which as shownin FIG. 3 projects outwardly of the end walls 16. The conduits 52 are adapted to be attached to a source of vacuum or pneumatic conveying means for discharging materials from the-trough thereto. In the closed position of the conduit 52 a closure cap and lock assembly 53. is disposed over the end of the conduit.

The closure cap and lock assembly 53 "which are removable on opposite sides of the troughand conduits 52 may be opened and closed as desired and these are more specifically described in the aforementioned patent application, 70049-A. As disclosed in said application, a locking bar 55 is connected to the assembly 53 and is engageable with slots 56" and the disk 48 to prevent rotation of said disks when the valve assemblies 34 and the cap assembly 53 are in the closed position. The housing 14 further includes an enclosure structure 54 as shown in FIG. 4 for protecting the shafts 45, racks 44, etc. from the elements.

THE OPERATION the compartments containing the valve assemblies 34,

the closure cap and lock assembly. 53 is removed on one side and has attached thereto a suitable conduit means communicating withthe conduit'52. The other closure cap at the other end of the housing is also removed to permit the entrance of air during suction on the conduit 52 attached .to apneumatic conveying means. Further then viewing FIG. 3, the operator places the'act'uating bar .51 into the opening of the lug 49 on the left-hand side of thehousing and rotates the disk 48 and longitudinal shaft 45 in a counterclockwise direction. As the shaft 45 on the left-hand side is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, as

viewed in FIG. 4, the rack members 44 on the left-hand sideis' moved in the direction toward the trough 22 thusmoving thevalve 34 to the right underneath the surface 33 whereupon material is discharged into the trough 22 in the compartment along line 4+4 of FIG. 2. It is, of course, obvious that the bevel edge 38 permits a very slight opening and micrometer type of adjustment in the sense that a positive and accurate flow of material may be metered through the longitudinal opening 21 into the trough. The valve plates 35, 36 maybe moved completely out of the way to effectuate complete discharge through the opening 21 when the plates 35, 36 are moved under the surface 33. Closing movement of the valves 34 is also facilitated by the bevel type edge 38 of the valve plates 35, 36. Clockwise movement of the left-hand shaft 45, of course, again closes the openfor the purpose the aeration pads 26 and 29 are utilized. The cap 31 is removed and air under pressure is directed through the pipe 30 into the plenum chamber 18 and thereupon moved through the passages 27 and through the respective aeration pads. I

In FIG. 8 another valve 39 is disclosed, this valve being of one-piece and having the oppositely beveled edges 40 which effectively provide the micrometer type control arrangement similar to the beveled edge 38. One of the advantages also is in the withdrawal of the valves underneath the extension and surface 33 so that a complete discharge may be had through the opening 21, with the valves disposed at one side thereof.

Thus, the objectives of the invention are achieved in that fine adjustment and control of the discharge of the material may be had by virtue of the claimed combination.

What is claimed is:

1. For a discharge discharge opening:

a discharge housing connected to said hopper,

said housing including a pair of downwardly converging walls,

a trough including upper horizontally spaced wall portions connected to lower portions of said converging walls,

saidvtrough including conduit means adapted to connect to a source of pneumatic pressure,

the improvement comprising;

' one of said converging walls including an exten- I sion substantially coextensive with the length of,

and projecting inwardly into said trough, said extension having an edge portion disposed horizontally between said spaced wall portion and providing therewith an elongated opening adapted to receive materials from said discharge hopper structure having a opening,

' a valve member supported on said trough for horizontal movement from a retracted position underneath said extension to a position closing said elongated opening,

means connected to said valve member for moving the same between said retracted and closing position, a hollow structure having a plenum chamber extending transversely within said housing, said structure including a transverse wall sloping downwardly toward said trough and being connected to said converging walls, said transverse wall and converging walls including apertures opening inwardly into said housing, aeration pads disposed over said apertures, and passage means on said converging wall communicating with said plenum chamber and said apertures to direct air under pressure from said plenum chamber through said aeration pads. 2. The invention in accordance with claim 1', said passage means including hollow members having upper wall surfaces in the plane of said converging walls, said extension of one of said converging walls being integral with and including a continuation of one of said wall surfaces. 

1. For a discharge hopper structure having a discharge opening: a discharge housing connected to said hopper, said housing including a pair of downwardly converging walls, a trough including upper horizontally spaced wall portions connected to lower portions of said converging walls, said trough including conduit means adapted to connect to a source of pneumatic pressure, the improvement comprising; one of said converging walls including an extension substantially coextensive with the length of, and projecting inwardly into said trough, said extension having an edge portion disposed horizontally between said spaced wall portion and providing therewith an elongated opening adapted to receive materials from said discharge opening, a valve member supported on said trough for horizontal movement from a retracted position underneath said extension to a position closing said elongated opening, means connected to said valve member for moving the same between said retracted and closing position, a hollow structure having a plenum chamber extending transversely within said housing, said structure including a transverse wall sloping downwardly toward said trough and being connected to said converging walls, said transverse wall and converging walls including apertures opening inwardly into said housing, aeration pads disposed over said apertures, and passage means on said converging wall communicating with said plenum chamber and said apertures to direct air under pressure from said plenum chamber through said aeration pads.
 2. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said passage means including hollow members having upper wall surfaces in the plane of said converging walls, said extension of one of said converging walls being integral with and including a continuation of one of said wall surfaces. 